All Things Vinyl, February 18-22, 2008: Phono Preampss from Sumiko, Rolls/Bellari, Musical Fidelity and PS Audio

by Oliver Amnuayphol

Pssst: wanna know a simple way to get more musical thrills out of those vinyl grooves? I'll tell you the secret--get thee self a proper phono preamp! That's right--I'm kicking in my two verbal cents on phono preamps this week for a few reasons:

--A good majority of receivers and amplifiers don't have built in phono stages, so you'll need one if you're planning on spinning the black circles.

--If you do have a receiver and preamp with a built-in phono stage, chances are it was included as an afterthought, with very little attention paid to sound quality.

--A quality, standalone phono preamp isolates all of this ultra-sensitive, delicate circuitry from any interference or noise generated by D/A converters, video processors, etc. that are part and parcel of today's modern receivers--resulting in much better sound quality.

--And most importantly, a really good phono pre can yield sonic gains equivalent to a quality phono cartridge upgrade.

So then--here's a few outstandingly musical phono preamps that will allow you to hear your records like you've never heard 'em before:

--Sumiko Pro-ject Phono Box II ($129): Suitable for both MM and MC cartridges, the Pro-Ject delivers far more smoothness, clarity, and tonal accuracy than the typical phono stages built-in to modern receivers and has enough gain for even moderately low-output MCs down to .5mV. A most cost-effective upgrade to any entry-level analog rig, and an outstanding value.

--Rolls/Bellari VP129 ($250): This MM-only tubed phono stage is so musically compelling it competes with units costing twice as much. The midrange richness and smooth treble refinement of this red-bodied beauty will keep you listening for hours on end with a naturalness and fun-factor that only tubes can provide. While its low-ish gain means you'll have to use a fairly high-output MM (preferably 3.0mV and above), the Bellari offers a huge dose of high-end sound for a very reasonable price. A winner!

--Musical Fidelity X-LPSv3 ($499): Like nearly every Musical Fidelity product, this MM/MC phono pre offers superb value, easily competing with units costing far more. True to its company moniker, the X-LPSv3 has all the qualities we've come to associate with excellent Brit-fi: Excellent rhythm-n-pacing, smooth, warm sound, an even-handed presentation, and yes, great fidelity to the music. Bonus: The X-LPSv3 has enough gain for even super-low output MCs (.20mV) and even keeps up with cartridges 2-3 times the MF's very reasonable asking price.

--PS Audio GCPH ($999): If you're really after top-tier sound, look no further than the GCPH. While certainly not inexpensive, this is a MM/MC phono pre for the ages. The GCPH has all the configurability and features to satisfy almost every vinyl die-hard, including independently adjustable gain and load settings, and dual mono signal paths with balanced circuitry. Of course, this would be moot if the PS Audio sounded only average; thankfully, the GCPH sounds stellar. Its deep, powerful bass, detailed presentation, textural richness, and supremely natural, organic presentation make this preamp the best sub-1k pre I've ever heard. Stiff tariff, yes; but its musicality is so far beyond its price point that significant improvements will cost much, much more.

Next week: Some notable vinyl releases.

Comments

[Oliver Amnuayphol]

Hi Josh and thanks for your interest and for reading my stuff. I also used to have a Grado and a Technics back in the day--good stuff! I think the Pro-Ject I recommended above would be a great match and should balance out the sound nicely; it will also grow with your set up if you go to a different cartridge down the road (MM, MC, etc.). A lower cost option would be another Rolls/Bellari model, the non-tubed VP29 (about $80, I think)--a perfect choice if you're sticking with your cart for a while (it has MM inputs only), and great sound to boot! And yes--if you get a separate phono stage, run this through the line or aux. in on the receiver. Thanks again for reading, and Viva La Vinyl!

Oliver

[Josh B]

Oliver,

Excellent review of cartridges and phono preamps. I recently rediscovered vinyl and have fallen in love with sound of spinning black discs. I have a couple of questions if you have the time. First of all, I have a pretty modest set up. My table is a used Technics SL1200MKII with a Grado Green cartridge. I am currently using the built in phono preamp on Yamaha home theater receiver. This setup sounds good, but I am sure it could be better. What do you think would be the best match for cartridge/phono preamp upgrade? I would need to stay toward the budget end of the spectrum. Also, if I add and external phono preamp I assume I will need to bypass the internal preamp on my receiver by using an open Aux input on my receive. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance,

--Josh